Jesse Yawn

Jesse Yawn is among the premiere blues vocalists in the Mid-Atlantic region. This Florida native has a distinguished career that, like so many others, involved an apprenticeship in gospel groups before setting out as a secular performer. He recorded a few times in the sixties and seventies (including a session for Chess Records), but nothing was issued. He has been a mainstay of the D.C. music scene for many years. While fronting Rick Serfas and the Soul Providers, he led the band to win the D.C. Blues Societys Battle of Blues and represented the D.C. Blues Society at the International Blues Talent Competition conducted by the Blues Foundation in Memphis.

Subsequently, Jesse formed his own band the Music Men and they have developed a loyal following among blues lovers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Jesses soulful singing is at home whether growling like Howling Wolf or tearing into a B.B. King or Bobby Bland classic. He is also a wonderful ballad singer as evident on his debut album, Forever More, that came out in early 1999 on Horseplay Records.

Jesse always has a terrific band, and usually has guitarist Harold Floyd working with him, throwing some guitar lines reminiscent of the late Albert King, and either former Otis Redding bandmember, Jackie Hairston, or former Blues Society Director, Liz Lohr, will more than ably handle the keyboards. Jesses performance will undoubtedly be one to remember.